Mixed Signals on Economy
Send Investors to Sidelines

By

Dave Kansas Staff Reporter of The Wall Street Journal

Updated Aug. 19, 1996 1:30 a.m. ET

For Wall Street, July was all about fireworks. August feels more like a lazy day at the beach.

At least so far. Daily volatility has dropped off, and trading volume has eased from record levels. Still, stock prices have managed to muster some gains. The Dow Jones Industrial Average, just below 5600 at the beginning of the month, is now at 5689.45, after Friday's gain of 23.67.